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Published on: May 29, 2016
Dynamic extracellular polymeric substance component succession primes cyanobacterial metabolism for distinct bloom
Kaikai Deng1, Qiang He1, Rui Yang1
1Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China; College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China.
Abstract:
Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) components play essential roles in cyanobacterial aggregation; however, their feedback regulation on cyanobacterial physiological metabolism remains poorly understood. Combining field observations with controlled laboratory experiments, we observed the succession of EPS components across different bloom stages, with polysaccharides (PS), proteins (PN), and humus sequentially accounting for the highest relative proportions. Laboratory experiments indicated that PS promotes lipid storage but suppresses photosynthesis, reducing growth by 17%; PN synergistically activates photosynthesis and respiration, boosting growth by 41%; and humus enhances photosynthetic efficiency while inhibiting respiration, enhancing growth by 55%. Transcriptomics confirmed that PN and humus upregulate photosynthetic and energy genes, while PS suppresses them. Therefore, EPS is not just a passive byproduct but also feedback that modulates bloom dynamics. This metabolic priming paradigm offers a transformative basis for using EPS composition as a diagnostic biomarker for bloom stage and developing precision control strategies.
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